MILAN SVOBODA
Composer, conductor, band leader, jazz pianist
(hudební skladatel, dirigent, jazzový pianista)

 


 
 
SOLO PIANO JAZZ RECITAL

     In a solo jazz piano recital Milan Svoboda presents mostly his own compositions and improvisation. His style goes much beyond the jazz idiom. Svoboda gave solo recitals in the USA, Mexico, Italy, Germany, Poland and other countries. A recording of his recital from the European Jazz Pianist Festival in Köln, Germany, was broadcasted in spring 1994 by the WDR German television company. V 1997 he presented his recital at the International Jazz Piano Festival at Prague's Rudolfinum Hall. His performance was released on an album entitled “Solo Piano Recital”. In autumn 2003 Svoboda's solo concert was featured within the classical series “World's Piano Works” produced by the FOK agency. A recording of this concert, again at the Rudolfinum Hall, was released on an album entitled “Merging”. In spring 2005 Milan Svoboda presented his solo recital to great acclaim at the Eurojazz Festival in Mexico City and in June 2007 in Beethoven Haus in Bonn, Germany, at the "Jazz am Rhein" festival (see review).
 
     Milan Svoboda also performs in a Duo with trumpet player Michal Gera. Together they have been giving occasional concerts since 1982. They played at festivals in The Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Germany and Poland. The Duo plays exclusively compositions by Svoboda and Gera. The two men, having very similar musical roots and sharing a similar musical vision, complement each other remarkably well. Their joint creativity is captured on the CD entitled “Duo” from 1991. In spring 2007 Milan Svoboda and Michal Gera Duo performed at the Eurojazz Festival in Mexico City (see video).
     
      As a pianist, Milan Svoboda cooperates with various ensembles and soloists both in the jazz and classical genre. He played for example with Luboš Andršt (g), Jiří Stivín (as), Karel Růžička (p) and many other Czech jazz musicians. Twice he lead the international Workshop Band at the Leverkusen Jazz Days Festival. He performed with the violinist Pavel Šporcl, with whom he recorded a CD with the music of Astor Piazzola. Svoboda further performs in a duo setting with cellist Jiří Bárta, besides playing with the Virtuosi di Praga orchestra and the Moravian and North Czech Philharmonic Orchestras. Together with the Gamavilla String Quartet Svoboda accompanies vocalist Jana Paulova presenting a Chamber Chanson Recital.

CD´s

                                                   solo1                 solo2